Wood Deck Refinishing
Maintenance and Care

The beauty and function of a wood deck is well known to many homeowners. Unfortunately this beauty is somewhat short-lived and now it is time for deck refinishing.

Here in Colorado, Crowder Painting has been able to extend this time to 4 years even with intense sunlight and harsh weather.

A maintenance schedule of 1-3 years is a good choice for most wood decks.

The amount of longevity possible from a deck finish is dependant on initial preparation, choice of deck stain plus exposure to intence sunlight and weather.

Preparation is 75% of the work.

Proper surface preparation prior to applying the finish is absolutely critical and can never be overlooked. If you choose to hire a deck refinishing contractor make sure proper preparation is part of the contract.

Before any washing or sanding can take place all mold, mildew and other "infections" need to be dealt with. It makes no sense to apply any finish over this unsightly and damaging nuisance. Plus, sanding mold will simply grind the fungus deeper into the wood.

To remove mold from any deck surface, a wood brightener or deck cleaners can be used. The choice depends on the amount of preparation you will be doing. Deck cleaners will be fine with additional sanding. Bleach and water can be used when small areas are affected.

You’re Almost Ready to Start the Preparation of Your Wood Deck

First, evaluate the condition and stability of the wood and stain. Many stains "burn off", turn into powder, after a short time and can be easily removed with pressurized water. Deck power washing can be a bit tricky and if done wrong could cause considerable damage.

Deck cleaning can include the use of wood strippers or brighteners. These chemicals are an interesting addition to power washing, but not necessary.

When I refinish a deck, power washing is just one part of the preparation process. The most important part is sanding. Deck sanding is a labor-intensive job and should include the use of power sanders. Usually nothing too big is needed.

Sanding can occur before the washing if a deck is very rough and requires a lot of work. In this case washing is used to clean the surfaces of dust and open the pours in the wood, allowing deep penetration of the stain.

Decks that are in good shape can receive a light sanding after a thorough power washing.

Now That All Surfaces Are Clean and Sanded
A Penetrating Deck Sealer Must be Applied

You have a lot of choices. Two general types are on the market, lightly tinted and solid color. Your choice depends on the needed longevity and overall look desired.

A general rule is the more color the longer the lifespan.

The most popular methods for applying a deck stain are with a brush, rolling, a paint pad and spraying. The best method depends on your experience and the decks construction. A combination can be used depending on your needs.

Refinishing a wood deck can be a difficult and exhausting task. Especially if the deck has been neglected for a while.

When the deck is properly refinished a maintenance schedule can be established. A proper wood deck maintenance schedule will reduce the need for intense preparation in the future.

Your Ideas

Have any ideas about wood deck refinishing? Or maybe you know about another way.

Refinishing a wood deck can be a challenge and a lot of work. What did you do to achieve a new look? I would love to know about any ideas or tips you have. Or just show off! Use the form below and tell the world, plus have your own web page. (You can even add a photo!)

What Other Visitors Have Said

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Proper Preparation  Not rated yet
I have been studying and performing deck cleaning and staining for several years now. Before we built our own deck on our home, I wanted to know the best ...

Refinishing my very rough pressure treated wood deck  Not rated yet
Here in a nutshell is what I did to fix up our neglected deck. Apply paint and finish remover. Wait for it to work while keeping from drying out. Used ...

The Deck Job  Not rated yet
This year, was the year to refinish the patio deck. My wife had wanted this accomplished last year, but I got pulled away from doing it. Generally, I am ...